Recommended Reading and Listening (8-11-17 edition)

Regularly, if somewhat spasmodically, I share a list of things I'm reading, watching and listening to with my congregation.  If I remember to do so, I also post it here on my blog:

United Church of Christ  "Just Peace advocates issue interfaith call to de-escalate threats between U.S. and N. Korea"--proud to be a part of a church that works for peace instead of beating the drums of war Podcasts "What Its Like to Be On Disability in Rural America"--Very interesting listen on the dramatic number of people on disability in "Trump country" and the disdain shown by the working people against the non-working people The Religious Right "Patriotism and the Church: Is It Too Much to Ask Churches to Be Careful: Anything that replaces the worship of God is idolatry"--Things must be really bad if Christianity Today is sounding the alarm about Christians worshiping their concept of America rather than God. This warning against idolatry of country is a good one, however, and grounded in theology that shouldn't be controversial to anyone who actually has read the Bible. "How America Really Lost Its Mind: Hint, It Wasn't Entirely the Fault of Hippie New Agers and Postmodern Academics"--Interesting read. Although this essay is a response to a think piece by Kurt Anderson in The Atlantic re: how we arrived at a place where "alternative truths" are taken seriously, this piece is also a nice summary of fundamentalist and evangelical Christianity's resistance to modernity, science and higher biblical criticism (e.g. evolution, intelligent design, etc.) HBO's Confederate and the "#NoConfederate" Backlash "The Lost Cause Rides Again: HBO's Confederate takes as its premise an ugly truth that black Americans are forced to live every day: What if the Confederacy wasn't wholly defeated?"--I have felt confused by the backlash to a TV show not even written yet, however this essay clarifies it for me. The premise for whites is a thought experiment, but for many blacks the racist institutions of the South never were defeated. Religion in the 21st Century "It's Complicated: When 'None" Doesn't Even Begin To Cover It"--I have all kinds of thoughts in response to this piece. As a pastor in a progressive mainline church that proudly is inclusive of LGBTQ people and a Christian who tries hard to dump theologies that oppress and shame people, I can't help but ask if the author has ever even tried a church like the one I serve?--they are out there even if their number is small compared to evangelical churches. I also wonder if even a church like mine is missing something that this author is looking for? Lots of questions. "Hillary Wants to Preach: Religion is playing a big role in Clinton’s post-election tour. What does she have to gain from sharing her faith now?"--Interesting article about Hilary's faith and what difference, if any, it would have made if she had shared it before now. You can find more stuff that I think is worth reading, watching and listening to by following me on Facebook and Twitter.